Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 18:21

Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, [even] upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so [is] Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.

21. Thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed ] Rab-shakeh answers his own question. It may be that he also is correct in saying that Hezekiah had hopes of help from Egypt. But in this the king would find no support from the prophets of the time. The figure of a reed is perhaps used by Rab-shakeh because Egypt produced them in abundance. A bruised reed, one which will crack, and offer jagged points at the broken part is used as a figure by Ezekiel concerning Egypt (Eze 29:6), and the words exactly illustrate what Rab-shakeh would convey. ‘They (the Egyptians) have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. When they took hold of thee by thy hand thou didst break, and rend all their shoulder: and when they leaned upon thee, thou brakest, and madest all their loins to be at a stand’. (Bp Hall.)

Pharaoh king of Egypt ] Pharaoh is here used as the common title of the native kings of Egypt. Thus Rabshakeh disposes of external help.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

This bruised reed – The tall reed of the Nile bulrush fitly symbolized the land where it grew. Apparently strong and firm, it was quite unworthy of trust. Let a man lean upon it, and the rotten support instantly gave way, wounding the hand that stayed itself so insecurely. So it was with Egypt throughout the whole period of Jewish history (compare 2Ki 17:4-6). Her actual practice was to pretend friendship, to hold out hopes of support, and then to fail in time of need.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 21. The staff of this bruised reed] Egypt had already been greatly bruised and broken, through the wars carried on against it by the Assyrians.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

This bruised reed; he calls Egypt a reed, with allusion to the reeds wherewith the banks of Nilus were full; and bruised, to note their weakness and insufficiency to support him. Compare Eze 29:6,7.

It will go into his hand, and pierce it, by some of the fragments into which it will be broken.

Unto all that trust on him; doing them no good, but much hurt.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

[See comments on 2Ki 18:17]

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(21) The staff of this bruised reed.Cracked or flawed would be better than bruised; because, as is clear from the following words, the idea is that of a reed splitting and piercing the hand that rests upon it. (Comp. Isa. 42:3.) As to the Judan expectations from Egypt, comp. Isa. 20:1-5; Isa. 30:1-8; Isa. 31:1-4, passages in which such expectations are denounced as implying want of faith in Jehovah.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

21. Staff of this bruised reed A figure especially well chosen, since the banks of the Nile, the great river of Egypt, abounded with reeds. Compare also Eze 29:6. The slender reed is a poor thing to lean upon, and when bruised or broken is still more frail. “Sennacherib compares Egypt with a broken reed, not because he had already broken its power, but because he regarded it as good as already broken.” Thenius.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments